AMBA ALAGI SURRENDERS

Southland Times, Issue 24439, 20 May 1941, Page 5

AMBA ALAGI SURRENDERS

TERMS ACCEPTED BY DUKE CAMPAIGN NOT ENDED (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. It is announced in London that the Duke of Aosta, the Italian leader in Abyssinia, has accepted the British terms foi’ the surrender of the beleaguered Italian troops in Amba Alagi. The British will occupy the town today. The Duke himself will surrender with 7000 Italian and colonial troops. It is also announced that Solium, near the EgyptianLibyan border, is still in British hands. The surrender of Amba Alagi does not mean that the Abyssinian campaign automatically comes to an end. The Italians are still holding out in the Gondar and Lakes districts.

British headquarters in the Western Desert announced that the Germans are reassembling the forces which were scattered by the British the previous day and regained some of the positions, including the heights above Solium. The German forces are much more heavily armed than the British, but our

offensive in the past few days has forced them into positions where they are vulnerable, especially to flank attacks.

A general headquarters communique issued in Cairo states:— “We have surrounded Amba Alagi. The Duke of Aosta sent emissaries to seek terms of surrender for the whole Italian forces in that area. Extending the area of the successful counterattack delivered yesterday, Australian troops recaptured a number of strong points in the outer defences of Tobruk and took 25 German prisoners. The enemy again suffered serious losses, including two medium tanks. Our mechanized patrols are continuing their aggressive tactics in the Sollum-Capuzzo-Halfaya area. BRILLIANT OPERATIONS “The surrounding of Amba Alagi resulted from a series of brilliant operations by Indians and South Africans, closely supported by the Royal Air Force. Our operations in southern Abyssinia are continuing successfully. The situation in Basra and Habbaniyah remains calm.

The widening of the area of operations in and around the Mediterranean is seen in a Royal Air Force Middle East Command communique issued on Sunday describing many operations by the aircraft of the Imperial and Allied forces, in which 21 enemy aircraft were destroyed for the loss of three British aircraft.

The communique states: — “On Friday night British heavy bombers attacked Benghazi, where considerable damage was done and a number of fires continued to burn long after the aircraft had left the target. Derna and Gazala were also raided. At Derna explosions, one of which was

particularly violent, took place among buildings south of the harbour. Fires were caused on the aerodrome landing ground at Gazala, which was bombed and machine-gunned. “British fighters maintained constant patrols, during one of which two Messerschmitts were shot down near Solium. Large motor transport supply columns on the Tobruk-Bardia road and on the Capuzzo track were successfully machine-gunned. Road traffic was completely stopped. During the attack over 20 vehicles were completely destroyed by fire and many others were damaged. A petrol dump was blown up. “Enemy aircraft raided the Suez Canal area last night, but no damage or casualties resulted to service property or personnel. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed by anti-aircraft gunfire and another was shot down by our fighters. Aerodromes in Greece occupied by the Germans were heavily attacked during Friday night. Our bombers caused a number of fires at Angos and also Menidi, where a violent explosion occurred at the north end of the aerodrome.

“Four aircraft on the ground were destroyed at Malaoi, where direct hits were obtained on the runway and hangars, aid incendiary bombs fell among dispersed aircraft, causing considerable damage. These bombing attacks were followed at dawn by attacks by our fighters, which machine-gunned the aerodromes at Hassani, Angos and Malaoi. At Hassani 20 Junker 52’s were seen to be hit and a number of Messerschmitt 109’s were also attacked. At Angos similar attacks were carried out against enemy aircraft on the aerodrome. Two of them were set on fire, and others were damaged. The enemy planes at Malaoi made excellent targets for our aircraft and many hits were observed.

“When enemy aircraft attempted a machine-gun attack on one of our aerodromes in Crete, our fighters intercepted them and destroyed three Messerschmitt 109’s and damaged others. Anti-aircraft fire brought down four enemv aircraft and damaged another. One of our aircraft returning from reconnaissance, joined in the fight and accounted for one Junkers 51 and severely damaged another.”